Rotary internal-combustion engine.



B. M, DUTTON IL F. L. IB'SN. ROTARY INTERNAL coMBusTIoN ENGINE.

APPLICATION ,FILED APR. 8v 1916. 1,228,101

B. M. BUTTON L F. L. JOBSON.

ROTARY INTERNAL coMBusTloN ENmNE.

JffPLlcATloN meu APR.8.1915.

Patented Muy 29, 191?.

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. L JOBSON.

. M. BUTTON & F

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGIN@ APPLxcATloN FILED Amm mgm-l Patented Mny29, 1917 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. end of the engine, part o'fthe'iframe being UNI' l 'sTATns PATENT `BURTON M. DU'rmoN, or ABNGDON, AND FRANK L. JoBsoN, or mcrnaoNn,` vnomfm, AssIeNons or oNLFoUn'rH 'roJAMEs H. McEvoY, or RICHMOND, vInGINrL l Bomann' :INTERNAL-comisnsrroN ENGINE.

To all ywhom t may` concern Be it known that we, BURTON M. DUrToN and FRANK L. JonsoN, citizens of the United States of America, andy residents, respec# `tively, of Abingdon, county of Washington, State of Virginia, and Richmond, county of the following is a full and-clean specication. A .f

This invention hasmrelatlon "to that type of rotary engines in which a plurality yof cylinders are arranged parallel to the power shaft and caused to bodily rotate around the shaft, and the object of this invention is to im nrove and simplify this type of engine anc `to providey a true four-cycle engine in which motor action is secured at each unit .once in each revolution, as more fully hereinafter set forth.` This invention has other objects `which will hereinafter appear in the course of the specification;

In the drawings- Figure 1 1s a vlew 'partly in side elevation and partly `in vertical longitudinal section of `one embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,"-partly in l horizontalsection; y v l Fig. 3 is a viewlooliing. at the `forward broken away;Y l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the forward end ofthe engine, the shaft and other parts being re oved for the purposeof better showing t e arrangement --of ports andi passages;

Fig. 5- is a view of the inner face of the rear head of the cylinder structure;

Figs. 6,7` and 8 are detail Views-herein# A red a `double piston, c'. c., a y lston structure after more fully explained; and Figs. 9, 10 and 11 other detail views here inafter described in detail.`

The base or frame of our engine consists of a pair of side bars (aand a pairof end bars b rigidly connected to form a rectangular frame. These bars are desirably made hollow to enable them to be utilized as inlet i and exhaust manifolds. The arrows in Fig.

A2 show the manner in which the incoming .fuel is distributed to Ithe engine and the manner in which the exhaust products are discharged through the hollow fra-me bars.

`Specification. of Letters Patent.

bars are employed, it is desirable `that plugse beemployed to close themI again'stentrance n of fuel and products of combustin.

Attached rigidly to `each ofthe' crossfbers'w of the frame is a` circular abutment f', ineach' of which is formed an inlet portgiend an outlet .port In These two abutmentsface each other and their` circular faces are machined or ground oil' smo0th.` 'Thevpower shaft c' extends centrally through these abutments and -issupported thereon, directlyy et the rearend of the engine and indirectly, through the medium of a sleeve j, at the for-` ward end ofthe engine,the sleevev being keyed to the abutment if throughyvhch it centrally extends. y l

Mounted'so as to rotate with' `t-hjevsh'aft PatentedfMayZQ, 1917.

Appncationalapri1 5,1916.' serial No: 89,821. H i

is a pair of double cylinder` heads k Yextendj ing radially with respect tothe Shaft and having `aiiixed to their outer ends apair of double cylinders Z lying parallel to the shaft.

The rear head 7c is rkeyed tothe shaft, ,but the forward' head is not connectedto the shaft,` beingrotatively. supported" on the aforesaid lstationary sleevey j. Formed on the outer face of eachhead, centrally .there- Y of, is an outwardlyfextending'circa ervboss m, which` is machined and'polished olf' so as to have a practically gas-tight Yitagainst the 'inner face of .the adjacent abutment f.

nects with a passage o'formedin ,the heed and communicating withy the compression vIn the face of `each- 4of `these bosses are.

spacerof the adjacent end ofuone'ofzthe cyl' inders.

In each of the cylinders is inount# having a piston p at each en so esto there# by provide for foure'rnotor units,- -two inr eachl cylinder. Each of the cylinders ispro-V `vided midway its length, in its inner side,

of each of these rods has a'sliding ,connecf tion with a disk or cylinder s mounted ro,

tatively in the piston member, each rod r' being thereby connected to the piston Structure by what is practically a universal joint.

The inner ends of the rods 1' are rigidly con-` nected by a ring yoke t-which surrounds and y'. These gears also mesh With a bevel gear z affixed to the inner face of the front head of the cylinder structure.

For ignition purposes, each cylinder head is provided with a spark plug a so located that its terminal b wipes a stationary contact plate c mounted on the frame and con nected to the high-tension conductor d of the usual ignition system. The current is timed or commuted by the commutator e" aff fixed to the povvershaft and provided with tvvo contact points f set at quadrature and adapted to touch at the proper times a spring g connected to the low-tensionl circuit h. yhen the commutator point is in Contact with the brush, a current flows in the lowtehsion circuit and this produces a current in the spark coil (not/shown) in the usual way, and, as-is seen, no Wiring isy connected to the spark plugs; wiping contact with the plates c at the proper time to give high-tension current to the spark plugs.

Oiling of the cylinders is effected by passing oil in through a bore 'i' in the power shaft, oil being introduced into this bore at the'forvvard end of the shaft by means of a gland j. This bore connects with a transfer hole k formed in the shaft coincident withv holes l formed inthe sleeve and the Wabblerhead, these holes extending to the periphery of the Wabbler-head and thus communicating with the bearing between the Wabbler-head bars r with a bore m', the oil may and the ring yoke. By forcing oil in through these passages i', lc and Z', it. will be seen that the yoke bearing as Well as the bearings ofl the sleeve will be kept thorlubricated. By providing each of the j mitted not only to the universal joint between this rod and the double piston, but also tothe cylinders, and it Will be seen thatl'centrifugal action will aid in carrying the oil to the cylinders and the rod bearings in the iston. l

The relative arrangement'of ports g, L and 'ny is such that during cach rotation eachl port n will communicate with `its adjacent inlet port gi, duringintake of fuel, be closed by the solid face of the abutment f during cbmpression and explosion, and then open into the adjacent outlet, port A7L during the, exhaust stroke. It will be observed that the abutrnents f Aand bosses m, Awhose faces are polthey get current by a ished to nicely fit against each ether,y are thus made to serv-e virtually as the valves land In, We may employ expansible packing ringsn, as shown inFig. 8, these rings being confined in a groove formed around the port of. These rings are normally expansible circnmferentially and are beveled to fit against correspondingly beveled faces onthe boss, so that they normally press against the polished face of the abutment and thus form a more ncarlygas-tight joint around port n.

In addition to the cut-off arrangement afforded at the bossvand abutment ports, in some types of engines it will be desirable to provide .a puppet valve o in each of the combined inlet and outlet passages. o, this valve being adapted to open inwardly and to be kept normally closed by the usual coil spring. The stem of each valve extends out through the outer face of the-cylinder bead,

and, to actuate each valve, we provide a rocking tappet p mounted on the outer face of the head and provided with a roller 1]' positioned to run upon a cam track r aflixcd to the fralne of the engine, the operating faceof this cam beingshaped to hold each valve open during intake' and exhaust and to permit it to close during compression and explosion strokes. It will be thus observed that our lconstruction lends itself nicely to the use of but one valve for each motor u-nit, this valve serving the function both of'an ex-` haust'valve and an inlet valve. In our construction it will be a. simple matter to render each one of these valves removable for v cleaning and repairing and for regrinding of the valve seat. Thls ready rcmov-abillty of the valve is obtained by inserting 1n the inner face ofthe cylinder head a removable plug s.

. It will be means may be expansion and understood that any suitable provided to compensate `for contraction of the cylinder structure and thus maintain gas-tight joints between thevfac'cs of the abutments and vthe bosses. ln some cases, the-cxpansiblc washersvvc have described may not be sufficient, and 1n such cases we may employ a two-part abutment as shown in Figs. 9, l0 and '11, spiral springs t being employed to press the inner section ofthel abutment against the boss. This movable section of the abutment is provided with tubes u 'which slide in passages formed in thestationary section, -as shown. It will be observed that with' this' construction a'suilicientV compensating action is obtained totake care of' expansion, contraction andY v vearof'the parts. Y l Y In operationnthe cylinder structure rotates clockwise,and, by .reason ofthe bevel gearing arrangement described, the walibler-head Will be caused to rotate anti-clock wise. This occasions double-quick piston travel,l carrying each motor unit through four cycles, induction, compression, explosion, and exhaust, at each revolution of the cylinder structure; in other words, while the,

i cylinders and their members rotate bodily throughone-'quarter revolution in one direction, the wabbler-head member rotates fone-quarter intheV other direction, the two 10 together` comprising a one-half rotation, thus givinggto the pistons their full travel foul" timesin each revolution of the cylinders; This action makes possible the valve action herein described. It Will be observed ,i 15 that the two rods r and the connecting yoke form ,together adoublelever and that, as the i y `ends of this lever are forced backwardly or forwardly by the explosions, the yoke memberex'erts what is practically a screw-like action upon the wabbler-head, thus tending to ff rotate the wabbler-head in one l,direction and `the yoke member in the opposite direction'.

.i To morespecifically llowthe valve action, "we may designate Athe motor units ,25 in Fig'lv as A, A', B, B. The unit A is one-quarter vclockwise before 'its cylinder fp'ort nwill open into the exhaust port in the ,E abutment,"so that, through this part of the 3o' cycle, solid surfaceis presented to the cyl- .iniier port by the boss face, thus preventing leakage.` lWhen the exhaust port is reached, 'exhaust begins and continuesthrough the i i next quarter, and, at the end of this quary ter, the cylinder port passes to solid surf j 4face again for a moment and then begins to mi register with the inlet portin. the boss. In-

fduction now ensues throughout this quarter, f sand at its end solid surface is again reached Onion'` the boss face, and the piston begins to compress the new' charge. At the end of this .vf v quarter, compression is completed and the i' firing point again reached. ,this point, i the cylinder port of unit B hasl just Pilsd 1 @i151 over the inlet `port and is ready to begin compression, so that, when its cylinder makes y i y a quarter turn, its compression will be coml; j i, :j-'p1etedv and it will fire. It will be noted that i this port is' advanced one-eighth, while the i one just dealt with is retarded one-eighth, so

" Mthat the, cylinder'ports shall be in quadrature relation yand thus ber served from one ofl portsin the' abutment without interference. While thisaction is taking place taking place in the rear motor units A and-BQ the port arrangement being such that` the `units A, A are companion'units, 3@ w and 'the ,units B, B companion units. Thus "60 ignition will take place simultaneously in unit l A and A and also simultaneously in units B and B. Simultaneous firing of diagonally opposite motor units tends to neutralies end thrust and make the engine a 65, )voll balancedand self-contained unit on the l `'firing and it'.wi11 be seen that it may advancethefront units A and B, similar action,

shaft. However, if desired, the motor units may be fired in sequenccbiv simply turnin the rear or the :front cyvndcrhead hel* about, to thus place all the cylinder ports 0n the same side of the shaft, or the same effect may be secured by turning oneofrl theabutments.ha1f about. f

It will be observed 4that the construction illustrated and described may be materially departedfrom without depaiwtng" .from our invention as expressed in the claims, For instance, we do not confine olllolva mth@ use of a reversely rotating wabbler member, as it is obvious that the usual `four-cycle functioning of the engine may, besecured 30 by rigidly holding the wabbler. member against turning, say, by securing it te an eX- tension of the v stationary sleeve, j, k,thereby doing 'away with the eers.` Thesame ef.- fect would be obtaine by having thewab- 35 bier-head aiiixed to'thevsha'ft, but 1n this case the shaft would haveto be held; stationary and the cylinders revolved, or vice Versa. Furthermore, we are not'confinedt'o use of. the valve and port ,mechanism herein described with' the reversely rotatable or double-quick action illustrated, for it is obvious that by inter osing a rotatable member carrying the in et and eXhllStport, timed by the usual reduction gear, a true `four-'cycle engine could be served.

4 Having thursl described 01.11;* *,1nvent1on, what we claim is: i A 1. Iman engine ofthe Class set'forth, a powerfshaft, two structures rotatable rela- 100 tively on anaxis concentric with said shaft, the outer structure embodyingafpair of oppositely disposed double cylinders, .adouble lpiston working in each cylinder, and heads for said cylinders, said heads being provided with inlet and outlet passagesy and ports, means whereby the reciprocation of said pistons causes relative` rotation of; said structures, and means controlling saidiports embodying abutments provided `each with an inlet and an outlet port andmembers' surrounding these ports and normally pressing against the adjacent cylinder vhead and abutment :faceP il' c lr In an enginefof the class set forth, e115 power Shaft, a rotatable structure mounted* concentric therewith and comprisin a plurality of, double cylinders paralle to the power Shaft, heads connecting the cylinders and provided with inlet ahdloutletfprts and passages,` a double piston working .in each` cylinder, o wabbler-hd-urrying member mounted. concentrically with respect to said v shaft, Seid webbler-head having its axis divergentto the axis of the shaft, airing yoke 125 embracing the wabbler-headA and provided f" with means havingconnection with said pistons, and meanscontrolling saidports embodying abutments lprovidedileech with an inlet port and an outlet port and a normally- 130 izo ' expansible beveled packing ring surrounding each of said ports and normally bearing both against the abutment face and the adjacent cylinder head. i

In an enginel of thel class set forth. a powerl shaft, a rotatable structure mounted concentric therewith'and comprising a plurality of double cylinders parallel to the power shaft, heads ci .inecting the cylinders and provided with inlet and outlet p orts and passages. a double piston working in each cylinder. a wabbler-liead-carrying member mounted concentrically with respect to said the cylinders provided Vtons tends to rotate said shaft. said wabblei'-head haviiigits axis divergent to the axis ot' the shaft. a ring yoke embracing the \\'abblei,liead and provided with rods having connection with said pistons, and Vmeans whereby the 'rotation ot' the outer structure causes the 'wabbler-headcai'- iying member to rotate in a reverse direction.

4. lnan engine ot' the class set forth. a power shaft. a rotatable structure mounted concentric rying nienilarfand a pair ot tiansiiiitting gears.

li'i an engine ot the class set toi-th` a power shaft, 'a rotatable structure embodying cylinders and pistons and cylinder heads. the latter ha ving poi'ts bler-head having its axis divergent to the axis otv the shaft, means whereby the reciprocation of they pistons tends to rotate the walibler-liead in one direction and the rotating vstructure in the opposite direction, and gearing connecting the, wabbleidiead to one of the heads to positively assist said tenileiiey to rotate in opposite directions.

6. In ay tour-cycle engine ot' the class set forth, a power shaft, a structure rotatable on an axis concentric therewith and embodying two double parallel cylinders, heads for cach with a combined' inlet and outlet passage advanced and the other in retarded position, means whereby the reciprocatioii ot the pisme-nt adjacent the outer face of each cylinder therewith and comprising a phi- 'rality ot' double cylinders parallel to the and passages, a -wabv sli-att, a ring for each cylinder, 7 the ports ot' thesev passages being both on oney side of the center oi rotation. one heilig in- 'at its inner end, 4a gear jloiiriialed on structure, an ibut-- head and provided with an inlet port yand an outlet port at the4 side facing the cylinder head, for the purposes set forth.

7. In a four-cycle engine of the class setl toi-th, a power shaft, a structure rotatable on "an axis concentric therewith and embodying two double parallel cylinders, heads for. the cylinders prm'ided'each` with a combined inlet and outlet passage for the ports of these passages being both at one side of the center ot' rotation, means whereby the reciprocation ot the pistons tends to rotate. said structure, an abutment adjacent the outer tace ot' each cylinder head and pro-v .'vided with an inlet port and an outlet port at resilient the side facing the cylinder head, means being provided for maintaining a gas-,tight joint between the abutting faces of vthe abutment-s andthe cylinder heads.

8. In a tour-cycle engine ot the class set forth, a power shaft, a structure rotatable on an axis concentric therewith and embodying two double parallel cylinders, heads Jr'or the cylinders provided eachwith a combined iiilet and outlet passage Jfor each cylinder, tlV ports of these passages being both at one'side ot the center of rotation` means whereby the reciprocation ot thepistons tends to rotate said structure, outer face of each cylinder head a-nd provided with an inlet port and an outlet poi't at theA side facing the cylinder head. a valve in each of said combined inlet 'and outlet passages, and means operable by the rotation of said structure to open these valves during exhaust and inlet. y

S). In an engine of the class set forth, a. power shaft, a rotatable structure rigidly at- 1taclied thereto' and cons istingot a pair of double cylinder heads, each ha'ving apair of combined inlet and outlet passages, double cylinders arranged parallel to the shaft, a double piston working in each cylinder, a sleeve journaled on the shaft and carrying a wabbler-liead whose axis is divergent to the yoke surrounding thea vabblerhead and joiirnaled thereon and carrying ray'dial rods whose outer ends connect the two said doiibleipistons, and gearing between the wabbler-head carrying sleeve and one of the heads to positively rotate the sleeve in the opposite direction to thecylinders.

10. ln an engine of the class set forth, a Jframe carrying a p'air ot abiitments, each having an inlet andan outletpassage, a

shattextcnding tliroiigh'said abiitnients and carrying a rotatable structure embodying parallel pistons, and passages and cylinder heads having ports double pistons working in the cylinders, a stationary sleeve-Jallixed to one of the abntinents and ve.\'tei idin, i`r through the adjacent head and carrying radial pins each pin, a gear atlixedrtc the adjacent head and meshing vyitlfsaid gearsinother 'gear mesheach cylinder,

SCI

cation of the pistons tends to -rotate said member in a direction opposite to the rotau tion of the cylinders.

11. In an engine of the class lset forth, a power shaft provided with a longitudinal and transverse bore and means for supplying oil thereto, relatively rotatable structures Inounted concentric' with the shaft, one lofv said strnctnres embodyin :bodily rotatable double cylinders and donb e pistons Working therein and Aradial rods connected to the pistons, each being bored longitudinally, the

I' other of said structures being provided With an oil passage comieeting the transverse passage in the shaft to the bores in the rods, for the purpose set forth.

' 12.. I n a foi-lr-oycle engine of the class set fortha power shaft, a structure rotatable on an axiszoneentrio therevvith'vand embodying two tlo'ailiuhl'e 'parallel cylinders, heads for the ,cylinders provided eaeh with va combined vinlet andoutlet passage for each cylindenthe ports of these passages being both at one side of the center of rotation, meanswhereby the reciproca'ton of the pistons tends to .rotate said structure, any abutment adjacent the outer face of each cylinder head and pro vided with an inlet port and, anoutlet port l:it the sidefacing the eylinderl'iead, avalve in each of said combined inlet and `outlet passages, means operable by the rotation of said structure to open these valves during exhaust and inlet, the inner' face of each head being provided with openings 'in aline ment with the said valk/es, and a lug fo each of these openings, these plugs eing movable to enable the valves to be rernoi,v ad when it is desired to operate the engine vv: 1- out these valves. In testimony whereof nwe hereunto -fx our signatnres.

BURTN M. BUTTON. emmen Jonson; 

